John Bergee paid almost $45,000 last fall for his used 2008 BMW 535i sedan. At the time, the Champaign resident thought he was buying a well-made luxury machine. What he got, he says, is a very expensive driveway ornament. Repeatedly the car's battery has drained while sitting in his garage, leaving him unable to start the vehicle. Bergee said the car, which he bought from a dealer, is still under warranty but BMW won't fix the problem. The car company has argued that he...

By Mike Helfgot and Bob Narang, Special to the Tribune | June 14, 2014

Lemont seniors Jake Latz and Mike Papierski shared a hug after winning the Class 3A championship Saturday, but the battery mates did not have the opportunity to meet between the mound and the plate after recording the final out. That's because Lemont rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to beat Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin 2-1. Latz has not thrown his final pitch to Papierski. The duo decided to attend LSU together, and both were selected by the Blue...

If the Problem Solver has done nothing else this week, he has certainly rallied BMW owners. Almost two dozen of them e-mailed after Sunday's column, which told the story of John Bergee and his 2008 BMW 535i. For months, the car's battery mysteriously drained between uses, leaving him unable to start it some mornings. Repeatedly, BMW told him it was not the car's fault; he simply didn't drive the vehicle enough. Many of you thought that explanation was weak (one...

The following items were taken from Naperville police reports: Four 24-volt batteries and a charger valued at a combined $800 were stolen from a construction site in the 1900 block of North Washington Street between 8 p.m. June 9 and 7 a.m. June 10. A bicycle was stolen from the 100 block of 4 t h Avenue between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. May 22. A laptop was stolen from a shopping cart in the 1300 block of South Route 59 about 1 p.m. June...

Q I have a 2004 Toyota Camry. For the last six months, the negative terminal on the battery and the front end of the cable connecting to it had a white powdery deposit. The positive terminal had none. It was the original battery so I thought that may be the cause of the deposit. The battery was changed by a Toyota dealer in October 2009. Within a month, the white deposit reappeared on the negative terminal and cable. A Toyota technician said it is normal for Toyotas to have this...

The following items were taken from police reports: A $300 Coach-brand wallet, a $150 Coach-brand change purse, personal papers and two iPhone charging cords were stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on the 7700 block of 162nd Place on May 26. A 40-year-old Tinley Park man was charged with domestic battery after threatening to slice his wife's throat with a steak knife during an altercation on the 7100 block of 173rd Place on May 25. ...

Internet: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; charlestonbattery.com. Storyline: The Fire open play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup — open to all U.S. amateur and professional teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The Battery, part of the United Soccer League Second Division, have advanced to the Open Cup semifinals three times and reached the final in 2008. Major League Soccer teams typically enter the tournament in the third round. The Fire, one of eight MLS teams in this year's tournament, have won four Open Cup...

LOS ANGELES - The Ukrainian prankster who struck actor Brad Pitt in the face at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie "Maleficent" was ordered to stay away from celebrity events as he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge on Friday. Vitalii Sediuk, a 25-year-old Ukrainian TV personality infamous for pulling pranks on celebrities at events, was charged with four misdemeanor counts of battery, assault, unlawful activity and interference at a theatrical event....

Bridget L. Norman, 18, of the 200 block of North View Street in Aurora, was charged with aggravated battery and domestic battery after she allegedly stabbed a 21-year-old man during an altercation about 11:30 p.m. Saturday in the 500 block of North May Street in Aurora, according to police. The victim was treated by paramedics at the scene for a minor puncture wound and declined further treatment.

LOS ANGELES - The Ukrainian prankster who struck actor Brad Pitt in the face at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie "Maleficent" will be charged with battery and assault, officials said on Friday. Vitalii Sediuk , a 25-year-old Ukrainian TV reporter infamous for pulling pranks on celebrities at events, will be charged with four counts that also include unlawful activity and interference at a theatrical event, Los Angeles City Attorney's...

A St. Charles man was charged with aggravated battery Nov. 12 after police said he assaulted a victim in the 1500 block of Indian Street in St. Charles. After hitting the victim, Mario Hightower, 29, of the 1800 block of Walnut Street, allegedly pulled a knife out and was cut deep in the hand as the victim struggled to take control of the weapon, police said. Hightower was out on bail after a recent obstruction of justice arrest by Geneva police.

The following items were taken from police reports: Five boys ages 16 to 20 stole a iPhone 5C with blue-and-gray cell phone case, valued at $425, from the hand of a Round Lake resident sitting on the CTA Blue Line train at 11:35 p.m. May 20. The five left the train at the Austin Boulevard stop and fled down the platform. An Oak Park man was jogging in the 300 block of North Elmwood Avenue at 9:10 p.m. May 19 when he was approached by...

The president of the 47th Ward Democratic Organization was arrested Saturday morning and charged with misdemeanor battery stemming from an election-night scuffle, authorities said. Chicago police arrested William Helm at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday as he was leaving a meeting held by Ald. Eugene Schulter at the ward office at 4239 N. Lincoln Ave. Helm called the charge false and "definitely politically motivated. " Authorities said a man reported that he was beaten by Helm and...

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. agency that investigates air crashes on Thursday called for lithium-ion batteries on Boeing's 787 Dreamliners to undergo more testing to ensure they are safe. The National Transportation Safety Board urged the Federal Aviation Administration to develop better tests for the uncontrolled overheating that led to a battery fire on a Dreamliner in 2013, require the tests for future aircraft designs and check whether 787s and other planes that...

A 36-year-old Naperville man was charged with several crimes after being arrested at 2:32 a.m. on April 25. Michael John Hargot, of the first block of Foxcroft Road, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, two counts of battery and one count of battery with bodily harm, police said.

The following items were taken from police reports: A 35-year-old Westmont man was arrested May 12 for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. A 29-year-old Westmont man was arrested May 14 for driving with a revoked license following a traffic accident. A 29-year-old Chicago man was arrested May 15 for selling tobacco to a minor. A 49-year-old Naperville man was arrested May 15 for selling tobacco to a minor. A 48-year-old...

An Oak Lawn man was charged with battery after he fondled his neighbor on the stairway of their condo building in the 9500 block of South Mayfield Avenue, police said. Thomas Eberhardt, 51, was arrested last week after the woman, 40, told police he grabbed her. Eberhardt told police he was at home at the time.

The Chicago Cubs continue to show faith in backup catcher John Baker's handling of Jason Hammel despite Baker's .063 batting average, as Baker will start Tuesday night against the New York Yankees. Hammel will try to extend the Cubs' winning streak to three games, which would equal their season high. Hammel lost to the Yankees 3-0 on April 16 despite allowing only five hits in seven innings with Baker behind the plate. Nate Schierholtz, who is 1 for 6 on the homestand and is...

An Evergreen Park man was charged with battery after attacking a stranger last month in a basement apartment in the 5000 block of West Wick Drive in Oak Lawn, police said. Kevin Yandel, 37, of the 8800 block of Francisco Avenue allegedly stormed into the victim's living room.

The following items were taken from Orland Park police reports: Orland Park An 18-year-old Orland Park man is charged with battery, and two younger teens have been petitioned into juvenile court for aggravated battery after an attack on an Orland Park teen suspected of damaging the 18-year-old's sister's car. The victim was transported from the 11000 block of Haley Court to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox for treatment of head wounds on...